Translator: Madesmoiselle V.
With pieces of red petals clustering round her delicate body, Murong Xueâs shoulder and neck above the pool water were as exquisite as porcelain, exuding girlish gloss and charm.
Attracted by that scene, Ouyang Shaochen darted towards the pool and reached into the water so as to gently carry Murong Xue out of the pool.
The slight ripples suddenly alarmed Murong Xue, who rapidly opened her eyes. Finding itâs Ouyang Shaochenâs magnified gorgeous face, Murong Xue frowned in confusion, âWhy are you here?â
âYou have been bathing for two hours, so I guess I should come in and check on you.â Ouyang Shaochen took a glimpse at her and explained with great disdain in his eyes.âHow could she fall asleep while taking a bath? Such a careless girl!â
Hearing his words, Murong Xue stretched her body, and found that the pool water had turned cold. She did have been asleep for a long time.
âBring me the cotton towel, please!â Murong Xue said. With Ouyang Shaochen standing nearby, she couldnât stand up in the nude and reach for the towel.â
Ouyang Shaochen pulled down the cotton towel on the small table, directly supported Murong Xue up, and wrapped her as soon as her slender body emerged from the water, instead of following what she said.
Murong Xueâs plump snow-white breasts were half-hidden under the cover of the thin cotton towel, which were as alluring as the red plums that quietly blossomed on the icebergs.
Ouyang Shaochen blinked in an unnatural way at the sight of that tempting scene before he carried her out, thinking,âThin as she is, she is not a flat-chested girl.â
It was quiet in the inner chamber. The golden sunshine shone through the lattice window, creating a warm and sweet atmosphere.
As soon as Ouyang Shaochen gently laid Murong Xue on the brocade mattress, her thick and long hair spread all over. Her delicate skin gleaming with girlish gloss, her pupils sparking with innocence, as well as her naked slender neck and delicate clavicle all turned into fatal attraction.
Lust instantly crept over Ouyang Shaochenâs eyes as he witnessed that scene. He turned to the sandalwood table and poured a cup of green tea for himself.
Murong Xue wrapped herself tightly with the cotton towel and sat up slowly. She stared at him, saying, âHeir Ouyang, please find a set of clothes for me before having that cup of tea!â
âThe clothes I wore before were no more useful since they were dirtied by sludge and smelled bad. Wrapping myself with such a big cotton towel was not a permanent solution for me.â
âI have sent for servants to buy clothes for you in Fragrant Clothing Pavilion. You can take my clothes as a stopgap since there are no clothes for women in my room.â Ouyang Shaochen explained tenderly as he picked out a set of white underclothes from the cabinet and threw them to Murong Xue.
The underclothes were soft and smooth, and felt very comfortable, from which the faint smell of ink-bamboo peculiar to Ouyang Shaochen came.
Murong Xue nodded with satisfaction. Yet, her eyebrows were furrowed as she turned her attention to Ouyang Shaochen who was still standing in front of the bed, âHeir Ouyang, would you mind turning around, or getting out of the room, since Iâm about to put them on?â
Ouyang Shaochen embarrassedly narrowed his eyes after hearing her words and turned around!
Murong Xue was surprised at Ouyang Shaochenâs obedience, and slightly raised her eyebrows.âItâs not easy for such a shrewd and elusive guy to follow my words without hesitation. Anyway, for the sake of my safety, I may as well take another protective measure in case of his misconduct on me!â
Murong Xue smile at the thought as she pulled the thin quilt to cover her body. Under the cover of it, she quietly pulled off the cotton towel, and put on the silk underclothes.
Ouyang Shaochenâs underclothes was too wide and long for Murong Xue, which nearly covered her knee, making his pants unnecessary!
Murong Xue looked up at Ouyang Shaochen, and said with a smile, âThank you for your clothes, heir Ouyang. The white pants are unnecessary for me. You can take it away.â
Ouyang Shaochen turned around, only to find that Murong Xue, dressed in her white underclothes, was sitting on the bed with herdelicate legs exposed, which were as long and straight as bamboo drains, gleaming pearl-liked luster in the golden sunlight.
Ouyang Shaochen blinked embarrassedly when he saw that. He slowly stepped forward and covered her delicate long legs with the thin quilt, enjoining, âTake care of yourself, Donât catch a cold!â
However, Murong Xue didnât take it seriously.âItâs summer now. I wonât catch a cold! But why do I still feel a bit drowsy? I just woke up!ââIs there any ice in your room?â she asked.
âYes, there was, but I asked the servants to take them out before you entered. Oh, do you feel uncomfortable?â said Ouyang Shaochen softly as he looked up at her.
âNo, I just feel a little cold!â Murong Xue said feebly.
âCold?â Ouyang Shaochen asked with a puzzled look. Then, he carefully gazed at Murong Xue who was sitting in bed with her arms folded, and found her slender body trembling slightly, and her face blushing.
After thinking for a moment, Ouyang Shaochen softly touched Murong Xueâs forehead with his jade-liked palm. His brows knitted at the abnormal high temperature spreading from his palm.âItâs a symptom of cold. But itâs summer now, how did she gratuitously catch a cold?â
âEh-hem, eh-hem!â Murong Xue coughed heavily in a slightly hoarse voice. Her lips were no longer as moist as before. A strand of black hair scattered and blocked her vision. Murong Xue smoothed them to the back of her ear, exposing a long wound as her left sleeve unwittingly slipped into the crook of her arm along her delicate skin.
Peering at the morbid color of her wound, Ouyang Shaochen became nervous and asked, âHas your wound been exposed to water?â
âYes!â Murong Xue nodded. She must hide her whole body under the pool water while dodging the search of those guards, therefore, the wound on her left arm was inevitably soaked in water.
âWater causes the deterioration of your wound, as well as your high fever.â Ouyang Shaochen said seriously. He took out a small porcelain bottle and enjoined softly as he cautiously sprinkled medicine powder on her wound before bandaging it, âThe sword wound is very deep, so donât go anywhere near water before it is recovered, otherwise, youâll suffer from fever again.â
âI know!â Murong Xue nodded torpidly.âMy wound wouldnât have deteriorated this time if it werenât for Ye Yichenâsplot. I wonât be so careless again!â
Ouyang Shaochen ended the bandaging by tying a rapid knot with his jade-liked fingers. He looked at Murong Xue with a serious look, saying, âYou must take some febrifuge. Iâll ask servants to decoct it for you.â
âNo! I wonât take that.â Murong Xue hurriedly refused. The decoction was too bitter for her to tolerate.â
Hearing her refuse, Ouyang Shaochen frowned in disapproval, and persuaded, âYou have caught a severe cold, which made your forehead as hot as flames and will destroy your sense after several hours if you donât take medicine!â
âBut that bitter decoction really disgusts me.â Murong Xue knitted her brows unhappily and looked at Ouyang Shaochen with an innocent look on her face. Teased by her expression, Ouyang Shaochen imperceptibly curved his lips, and said in a compromising stand, âOkay, you can take pills as an alternative.â\n